When Do My Kids Need To See The Dentist?
Regular visits to the dentist can help children understand their smiles and the importance of caring for them. They can also enjoy a reduced risk of cavities too! But when do kids need to see the dentist? In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, pediatric dentist talks about when children should attend checkup and cleaning appointments.
The First Visit
We recommend an initial visit at around age one, after the first baby tooth has arrived. The visit usually involves no treatment, just a lap knee-to-knee exam to ensure teeth are erupting properly. Starting at age two, checkups and cleanings should happen at least once every six months. You can help prepare your children for these appointments by maintaining a positive attitude, as children could pick up on your anxiousness. You can show them pictures of our office and team on our website, and talk to them about how our job is to make sure kids keep their smiles healthy and strong, and how we will explain each step for their exam, answering their questions and offering a gentle approach to dental care. This helps ease anxiety, and our team is also experienced in working with children, so we can make them feel welcomed when they arrive!
Six Month Appointments
During the six month appointments, our team will carefully examine the smile using digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, so we can look for signs of tooth decay, infection, or gingivitis. We also make sure baby teeth are arriving and falling out as they should, and ensure permanent teeth are erupting properly too, which helps limit the risk of dental misalignment. During the same sitting, we will clean the teeth with an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual tool, which breaks up and removes all plaque and tartar. We then polish the teeth, so they leave with brighter smiles and a reduced risk of cavities and gum issues. Routine cavities help them become accustomed to seeing the dentist, limiting dental anxiety and allowing us to instill good oral health habits.
Signs of Trouble
You should also bring them in when they experience toothaches. Pain in the teeth when they eat or drink, or an ache that doesn’t pass after a day, could mean the presence of tooth decay, a case advanced enough that an infection could develop without treatment. Likewise, if they damage a tooth, this is a dental emergency that needs immediate attention. If you have any questions, then give us a call today.
Your Dallas, TX, Dentist Offers Preventive Care for Kids
We would like to help children enjoy optimal oral health throughout their childhood. If you have any questions about safeguarding little smiles, then contact your Dallas, TX pediatric dentist, Dr. Marr, by calling (214) 321-4880.
filed under: Children's Dental Services